Wearable exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is provided for use by people exercising or conducting physical training, including but not limited to physical therapy. The apparatus presented comprises a garment or harness with multiple attachment points, spring-force resistance components which may be adjustable and reversibly attached to the garment or harness, and handles that may be reversibly attached to one or more of the spring-force resistance components. A person may use the apparatus to exercise with full range of motion and with adjustable resistance while training in free motion or while stationary, from any position or location. The apparatus allows to exercise any of a range of muscle groups, with a full or recovering range of motion, while seated, lying down, standing, or running, in any location or setting, providing a better exercise experience than prior art training devices. The present invention solves problems with the currently available means and apparatuses of exercise.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to providing apparatusfor physical therapy and exercise, and more particularly, to wearableexercise apparatuses having adjustable and moveable resistancecomponents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In physical therapy or in any exercise training regimen, more broadlythan physical therapy, a person must usually be able to access and usesome equipment that offers weight and resistance. This equipment may befree weights, or exercise machines, or objects to move or carry, orobjects that offer some resistive force so that the person must exert inorder to move the object. Other exercises exist, of course, such asaerobic or cardiovascular exercise, that generally require both thespace and the ability to move around: running a distance or on atreadmill, swimming, playing sports, and other forms of exercise.

For people who do not have the space for large exercise equipment, orthe ability to use traditional weights or exercise equipment, or theability or time to travel to a gym, current exercise apparatus haveseveral shortcomings. Free weights are bulky to store, and pose risk ofinjury if not stored and used carefully. Elastic-band exercisers are notgenerally bulky or heavy, but they have at least two shortcomings: theypose a risk of injury if and when they break, which is common with them,and the resistance they offer changes in use, following Hooke's physicallaw of springs at least approximately (F=kx, where F is the forcerequired to hold a spring at a length of extension x, and where k isconstant for a given spring). In practice, this means that a person cannever get consistent exercise with elastic-band exercisers, as theyrequire almost no force to extend a small amount and a great deal offorce to extend fully, so that a person extending an arm or leg wouldfeel little resistance at the start of the range of motion and a greatdeal more resistance at the end of the range of motion. Whileelastic-band exercisers are affordable and widespread, they have theseshortcomings for people wishing to train or to recover with physicaltherapy.

Body-weight exercisers exist, and some may be easily transported, andused in multiple locations. But, these do not allow for any adjustmentof the weight or resistance, as they rely on the weight of the personusing them in some form, and the person must push or pull against his orher own weight. Therefore, body-weight exercisers and other portableexercisers known in the art do not allow for adjustment of the tensionor resistance offered, which limits their utility and functions.Additionally, body-weight exercisers cannot be used from any position: aperson must be near to some fixed object, and must be able to be in aparticular position relative to that fixed object.

Prior-art exercise apparatus generally do not allow a user to use thesame equipment from a broad range of positions and range of angles ofuse, so that the same exercise equipment can be used to provide exerciseto a full range of muscle groups from a variety of angles.

Prior art devices exist, such as products including but not limited tothe Balkowitsch products, BoxBandz products, and Juke Performanceproducts (a harness or handles with elastic bands attached); the X3products (elastic band with bar and platform); the Clench, Chair Gym,and WSXX products (elastic-bands and handles for training attached to afixed object); and the Vertimax products (elastic bands attached to aplatform which may be moveable) disclosed in the Information DisclosureStatement by Applicant filed with this application. These have the sameshortcomings as described herein: variable resistance over the range ofmotion of the user; requirement to use large equipment and/or fixedobjects; inability to use from any position.

Finally, the prior art does not allow a user to use exercise equipmentfrom any position: seated or in a wheelchair or other mobility device,lying down, standing but away from walls or doors, or outdoors. This isbecause prior art devices are either not easily transported (weights,exercise machines) or require some attachment to a fixed object(body-weight exercisers, most elastic-band exercisers).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets all these needs, by disclosing apparatusthat may be worn and adjusted, with a range of spring resistancecomponents at different levels of resistance, and a range of user grips,and which spring resistance components may be moved around on theapparatus. The present invention further addresses the problem of otherexercise apparatus present in the prior art. The present invention maybe used for physical therapy, for exercise, or for any combination ofthose or other goals. The apparatus of the present disclosure may beused for stretching, for bending and extending joints, for regainingmobility and support, for reducing or eliminating pain, and may be usedwithout the use of a user's hands. The apparatus of the presentdisclosure may help a user to avoid surgery, improve mobility, recoverfrom a stroke, recover from or prevent a sports or other injury, and/orimprove balance and coordination. A person may use the apparatus toexercise with full range of motion and with adjustable resistance whiletraining in free motion or while stationary, from any position orlocation. The apparatus allows to exercise any of a range of musclegroups, with a full or recovering range of motion, while seated, lyingdown, standing, or running, in any location or setting, providing abetter exercise experience than prior art training devices.

The present invention addresses the problems of the prior art, which donot present apparatus that may be easily transported, and may be usedfrom any position without a need for anything in the vicinity, and maybe used without need for travel or a large amount of space, and may beadjusted both for level of resistance and which muscle group or groups aparticular exercise targets. The apparatus of the present disclosurefurther allows for adjustment of the tension or resistance setting, suchthat low resistance can be used for muscle toning, and high resistancecan be used for muscle building, all in the same apparatus. Other bandsphysical therapy and exercise equipment doesn't offer this range of usesand functions.

Further, the present invention introduces a product that allows a personto wear a garment (which may be a vest, shorts, leggings, or otherconfiguration), the garment having or being a harness, and attach to itone or more spring resistance components, and attach to one or more ofthe spring resistance components one or more attachment pulls, and usethose to offer resistance to exercise movements by the person.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a garment, where thegarment comprises a plurality of attachment points; a plurality ofresistance components, each having a proximal end and a distal end; anda plurality of user grips.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which theplurality of resistance components may be reversibly attached to andremoved from the plurality of attachment points at the proximal end ofeach resistance component.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which theplurality of attachment points are distributed on the garment in a firstpattern on a first side of the garment.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which theplurality of attachment points are distributed on the garment in a firstpattern on a first side and a second pattern on a second side of thegarment.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which anyof the plurality of user grips may be reversibly attached to and removedfrom the plurality of resistance components, at the distal end of eachresistance component.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which anyof the plurality of resistance components may be reversibly attached toand removed from the plurality of attachment points, at both theproximal end and the distal end of each resistance component.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which oneor more of the plurality of resistance components compriseconstant-force springs.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which oneor more of the plurality of resistance components comprise anadjustable-resistance mechanism.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which thefirst pattern places the plurality of attachment points to be near to aplurality of muscle groups of a user.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which theplurality of user grips may be attached to any body part of a user.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a harness having aplurality of attachment points, and a first side and a second side; aplurality of resistance components, each having a proximal end and adistal end; and a plurality of user grips.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which theplurality of resistance components may be reversibly attached to andremoved from the plurality of attachment points at the proximal end ofeach resistance component.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which theplurality of attachment points are distributed on the harness in a firstpattern on a first side of the harness.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which theplurality of attachment points are distributed on the harness in a firstpattern on a first side and a second pattern on a second side of theharness.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which anyof the plurality of user grips may be reversibly attached to and removedfrom the plurality of resistance components, at the distal end of eachresistance component.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which anyof the plurality of resistance components may be reversibly attached toand removed from the plurality of attachment points, at both theproximal end and the distal end of each resistance component.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which oneor more of the plurality of resistance components compriseconstant-force springs.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which oneor more of the plurality of resistance components comprise anadjustable-resistance mechanism.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which thefirst pattern places the plurality of attachment points to be near to afirst plurality of muscle groups of a user.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus in which theplurality of user grips may be attached to any body part of a user.

These aspects of the present invention, and others disclosed in theDetailed Description of the Drawings, represent improvements on thecurrent art. This summary is provided to introduce a selection ofconcepts in a simplified form that are further described below in theDetailed Description of the Drawings. This Summary is not intended toidentify key features or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofvarious aspects, is better understood when read in conjunction with theappended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, the drawings showexemplary aspects; but the presently disclosed subject matter is notlimited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In thedrawings, like reference characters generally refer to the samecomponents or steps of the device throughout the different figures. Inthe following detailed description, various aspects of the presentinvention are described with reference to the following drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an aspect of the apparatus of thepresent disclosure in use by a user.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a component of the apparatus of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of thepresent disclosure, in use by a user.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an aspect of the apparatus of thepresent disclosure in use by a user.

FIG. 6 shows a front perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an aspect of the apparatus of thepresent disclosure, in use by a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The presently disclosed invention is described with specificity to meetstatutory requirements. But, the description itself is not intended tolimit the scope of this patent. Rather, the claimed invention might alsobe configured in other ways, to include different steps or elementssimilar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction withother present or future technologies. Moreover, although the term “step”or similar terms may be used herein to connote different aspects ofmethods employed, the term should not be interpreted as implying anyparticular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unlessand except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.The word “approximately” as used herein means within 5% of a statedvalue, and for ranges as given, applies to both the start and end of therange of values given.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the invention. But, the presentinvention may be practiced without these specific details. Structuresand techniques that would be known to one of ordinary skill in the arthave not been shown in detail, in order not to obscure the invention.Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various majorelements constituting the apparatus and methods of use the presentdisclosure.

The present disclosure presents a wearable exercise apparatus 100 forwearable exercise, which may be worn and used by a user 200, in avariety of positions, from any location. With reference to FIGS. 1 and2, the wearable exercise apparatus 100 may comprise a garment 110 to beworn by or secured on the user 200, the garment 110 comprising aplurality of sides 111, which plurality of sides 111 comprises a frontside 112 and may comprise a back side 114, and may also comprise one ormore additional sides, a top, and/or a bottom; and the garment 110comprising a plurality of attachment points 120, which attachment points120 are herein referred to as a first attachment point 120 a, a secondattachment point 120 b, and so on for any number of the plurality ofattachment points 120.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the wearable exercise apparatus 100further comprises a plurality of resistance components 130. Each of theplurality of resistance components 130 comprises a proximal end 131which may be reversibly attached to and removed from any of theplurality of attachment points 120, a distal end 132 being the enddistant from the proximal end 131, a resistance body 133 having theproximal end 131 and the distal end 132 attached thereto, and a resistorelement 134 enclosed in or attached to the resistance body 133. Thedistal end 132 comprises an extension element 135, which may reversiblybe extended from and be retracted into or adjacent to the resistancebody 133. One or more of the plurality of resistance components 130 maycomprise constant-force springs. One or more of the plurality ofresistance components 130 may comprise an adjustable-resistancemechanism.

With reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 1, the wearable exercise apparatus 100further comprises a plurality of user grips 140, each of the pluralityof user grips 140 herein referred to as a first user grip 140 a, asecond user grip 140 b, and so on for any number of the plurality ofuser grips 140. Each of the plurality of user grips 140 comprises aplurality of user grip anchors 142, where each of the plurality of usergrip anchors 142 allow each of the plurality of user grips 140 to bereversibly attached to and removed from the distal end 132 of thatresistance component 130. Each of the plurality of user grips 140 may beworn, used, held, or otherwise reversibly secured to or on the user 200.

With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, the plurality ofattachment points 120 may be distributed on the wearable exerciseapparatus 100 in a first pattern 150, or in a second pattern 152, or ina third pattern 154, or, as will be apparent to one of skill in the art,in any other distribution of the plurality of attachment points 120 onthe wearable exercise apparatus 100 as may be desirable. Any suchdistribution of the plurality of attachment points 120, including butnot limited to the first pattern 150, the second pattern 152, or thethird pattern 154, may, in some aspects of the present disclosure, placethe plurality of attachment points 120 to be near to a first pluralityof muscle groups 210 of a user 200; where “near” means, in this context,in proximity to, and/or situated in a manner that will allow the user200 to use the wearable exercise apparatus 100 to exercise a desired setof muscle groups 210, meaning a plurality of muscle groups 210. Theplurality of attachment points 120 may be placed on any of the front,back, sides, top, or bottom of the wearable exercise apparatus 100 or ofthe garment 110.

With reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the wearable exercise apparatus 100may comprise a harness 160, to be worn by or secured on a user 200. Theharness 160 comprises a front side 162 and a back side 164, and may alsocomprise one or more additional sides, a top, and/or a bottom. Theharness 160 may be worn by the user 200, and may comprise the pluralityof attachment points 120, wherein the plurality of attachment points 120are distributed in a first pattern 170, or a second pattern 172, orother pattern of the plurality of attachment points 120 as aredesirable. The plurality of attachment points 120 may be used by theuser 200 to place a plurality of resistance components 130 to allow theuser 200 to exercise a first plurality of muscle groups 210 of the user200, or more than one set of muscle groups. The plurality of attachmentpoints 120 may be placed on any of the front, back, sides, top, orbottom of the harness 160.

With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the user 200 may choosethe plurality of muscle groups 210 to exercise, by placing the pluralityof resistance components 130 on the plurality of attachment points 120and by placing the plurality of user grips 140 on a body part, meaning apart of the body, of the user 200, including but not limited to one ormore of the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, arms, legs, elbows, knees,neck, or other body parts of the user 200. By placing the plurality ofresistance components 130 and the plurality of user grips 140, the user200 may exercise nearly any muscle groups 210.

With reference to FIG. 3, the plurality of resistance components 130allow for variation of weight or force resistance levels experienced bythe user 200 in using the wearable exercise apparatus 100 for exercise.The plurality of resistance components 130 may, in some embodiments ofthe present disclosure, be adjustable, by varying the resistance ortension of each resistor element 134, to allow, advantageously, a weightresistance level of from approximately 1.5 lbs. to approximately 100lbs. With such an adjustable resistance, lower weight resistance levelsoffer toning of the muscle groups 210 of the user 200, while higherweight resistance levels offer muscle building. The prior art cannotoffer this combination of customization, portability, and adjustability.

Certain aspects of the present invention were described above. From theforegoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted toattain all the ends and objects set forth above, together with otheradvantages, which are clear in and inherent to the inventive apparatusdisclosed herein. It will be understood that certain features andsub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference toother features and sub-combinations. It is expressly noted that thepresent invention is not limited to those aspects described above, butrather the intention is that additions and modifications to what wasexpressly described herein are also included within the scope of theinvention. Moreover, it is to be understood that the features of thevarious aspects described herein are not mutually exclusive and canexist in various combinations and permutations, even if suchcombinations or permutations were not made express herein, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. In fact,variations, modifications, and other implementations of what wasdescribed herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Assuch, the invention is not to be defined only by the precedingillustrative description.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:
 1. A wearable exercise apparatus, thewearable exercise apparatus comprising: a garment, where the garmentcomprises a plurality of attachment points and a plurality of sides; aplurality of resistance components, each having a proximal end and adistal end; and a plurality of user grips.
 2. The wearable exerciseapparatus of claim 1, in which the plurality of resistance componentsmay be reversibly attached to and removed from the plurality ofattachment points at the proximal end of each resistance component. 3.The wearable exercise apparatus of claim 1, in which the plurality ofattachment points are distributed on the garment in a first pattern on afirst side of the garment.
 4. The wearable exercise apparatus of claim3, in which the first pattern places the plurality of attachment pointsto be near to a first plurality of muscle groups of a user.
 5. Thewearable exercise apparatus of claim 1, in which the plurality ofattachment points are distributed on the garment in a first pattern on afirst side and a second pattern on a second side of the garment.
 6. Thewearable exercise apparatus of claim 1, in which any of the plurality ofuser grips may be reversibly attached to and removed from the pluralityof resistance components, at the distal end of each resistancecomponent.
 7. The wearable exercise apparatus of claim 1, in which anyof the plurality of resistance components may be reversibly attached toand removed from the plurality of attachment points, at both theproximal end and the distal end of each resistance component.
 8. Thewearable exercise apparatus of claim 1, in which one or more of theplurality of resistance components comprise constant-force springs. 9.The wearable exercise apparatus of claim 1, in which one or more of theplurality of resistance components comprise an adjustable-resistancemechanism.
 10. The wearable exercise apparatus of claim 1, in which theplurality of user grips may be attached to any body part of a user. 11.A wearable exercise apparatus, the wearable exercise apparatuscomprising: a harness having a plurality of attachment points, and afirst side and a second side; a plurality of resistance components, eachhaving a proximal end and a distal end; and a plurality of user grips.12. The wearable exercise apparatus of claim 11, in which the pluralityof resistance components may be reversibly attached to and removed fromthe plurality of attachment points at the proximal end of eachresistance component.
 13. The wearable exercise apparatus of claim 11,in which the plurality of attachment points are distributed on theharness in a first pattern on a first side of the harness.
 14. Thewearable exercise apparatus of claim 13, in which the first patternplaces the plurality of attachment points to be near to a firstplurality of muscle groups of a user.
 15. The wearable exerciseapparatus of claim 11, in which the plurality of attachment points aredistributed on the harness in a first pattern on a first side of theharness and a second pattern on a second side of the harness.
 16. Thewearable exercise apparatus of claim 11, in which any of the pluralityof user grips may be reversibly attached to and removed from theplurality of resistance components, at the distal end of each resistancecomponent.
 17. The wearable exercise apparatus of claim 11, in which anyof the plurality of resistance components may be reversibly attached toand removed from the plurality of attachment points, at both theproximal end and the distal end of each resistance component.
 18. Thewearable exercise apparatus of claim 11, in which one or more of theplurality of resistance components comprise constant-force springs. 19.The wearable exercise apparatus of claim 11, in which one or more of theplurality of resistance components comprise an adjustable-resistancemechanism.
 20. The wearable exercise apparatus of claim 11, in which theplurality of user grips may be attached to any body part of a user.